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Patented Dec. 20, 1887.

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O. T. BOULTON.

STOCK RACK FOR PLATFORM SGALES.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORRIN T. BOULTON, OF MECHANIOSBURG, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN E. HUNTER, OF SAME PLACE.

STOCK-RACK FOR PLATFORM-SCALES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,927, dated December 20, 1887.

Application filed June 15, 1887. Serial No. 241,840. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it'mcty concern:

Be it known that I, ORRIN T. BOULTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mechanicsburg, in the county of Ohampaign and State of Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in StoclcRacks for Platform-Scales, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in stock-racks for platformscales; and the object of myinvention is to provide a simple, strong, and durable rack which may be left at all times upon the platform of the scales and form substantially a part thereof, the parts being so arranged and constructed that when not in use the rack may be closed together and folded back, so as to readily permit upon the platform loaded vehicles, loads of hay, or such other articles or materials as it is desired to weigh thereon.

My invention consists in the various constructions and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a rack embodying my invention, shown in place upon the platform of a suitable scales and in position for use in weighing stock. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one side of the rack, partly folded, showing the manner of closing the parts together, the position of the side racks when completely folded being shown in dotted lines. Figs. 3 and 4, respectively, are detailed views, partly in section, showing the manner of hinging the end-gates and braces. Fig. 5 isa detailed view, also in section, of the end brace and the tie-rod therefor; and Fig. 6 is a detail of the side-rack hinge.

Like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference throughout the several views.

In the said drawings, A represents the platform of scales of any suitable make or construction. Hinged to the platform A, on either side thereof, are the side racks, B B, which are preferably constructed with a series of upright posts, a, connected by longitudinal slats b in the ordinary manner. The side racks, B, are each hinged at the bottom to the platform A, preferably by means of an ordinary straprods d (1*.

hinge, 0, located at the bottom of each of the upright posts a, as shown in Fig. 2. The side racks are preferably located at the sides of the platform immediately over the longitudinal sills thereof, so that the lower portions of the respective hinges cpass through the said sills, a nut and washer being preferably provided on the said hinge portion, as shown in Fig. 6, thus holding the side racks securely in their places. The lower ends of each of the upright posts a are cut off at an angle, so that when .the said posts are in a vertical position the lower ends thereof are raised above the platform, and do not come in contact therewith, the side racks, B, being adapted by this construction to turn back at an oblique angle to the platform until the beveled ends of the post a come into contact with the platform, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6.

To each of the side racks, B, at opposite ends thereof, is hinged a brace-connection, O, preferably formed of two longitudinal pieces, (2 (I, connected together near the ends by transverse pieces d, and securely braced by stay- .lhese brace-connections O are adapted to hear at each end against the upright posts a (which are located at the respective ends of said side racks) when the said side racksare in a vertical position. Now,in order to bind the side racks firmly together and secure them in a vertical position, I provide means for drawing the corner-posts a of the side racks firmly against the ends of the said brace connections 0 and securing them in this position. This I preferably accomplish by a tie-rod, D, which extends through the said postsand braceconnections, and is provided. with means for shortening the same, so

as to draw the parts together.

As before stated, the brace-connections O are hinged to the'cornenposts of the respective side racks, B, and in order to permit them to turn on their hinges the tie-rods D are provided at the hinged end with a link-connection, 0, and at the free end with a hook-andeye connection, 0. Attached to the hook a is a short screw-threaded rod, c, which extends through the post a, and is engaged by a crank nut, c, tapped out to correspond to the screwthreads on the rod 0 In addition to the tie IOC rod D, I preferably provide on the free end of the connecting-brace small projecting studs adapted to engage in eye-clips 0 (See Fig. 2.)

Hinged to the respective side racks, at opposite ends thereof, and directly under the braceconnections, are gates of an ordinary construction adapted to close the space between the side racks at the ends, and thus complete the rack. These gates E, as stated, are hinged to the side racks, B, the hinges being ofsuch construction that each gate is adapted to swing in either direction to a distance of ninety degrees, or parallel with the side racks, B. Each of the gates E is provided with a fasteningbar, F, preferably pivoted near its center to the gate and adapted to engage at either end with small metal clips e e on the platform A and the brace-connection C, respectively.

On each of the side racks, B, near the cen ter thereof, or at any convenient point, I provide a supporting-rod,f, provided at its free end with a hook adapted to engage with astaple, g, in the platform A, for a purpose hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that the hinged end of the respect ive brace-connections may bear directl yagainst the corner-post a, to which it is hinged without any undue strain upon the hinge, and at the same time be free to turn inwardly upon the said hinges, I extend the longitudinal pieces (1 (1 beyond the center of the said hinges untilthey bear against the said corner-post and cut the inner corners of the said longitudinal pieces away on the are of a circle struck from the center of said hinge or hinges, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the brace-connectionis free to turn inwardly upon its hinges, and at the same time bear directly against the corner-post to which it is hinged.

The operation of my improved rack, as thus described, is as follows: The rack beingin the position and arranged as shown in Fig. 1, with the braceconnections secured firmly between the side racks by means of the tie-rods and the end gates E closed and fastened in the manner described, if it is desired to use the scales for weighing stock, the fastening-bar F ofone of the gates is turned until the ends thereof are released from its fastening-clips and the gate opened outwardly to permit the stock to be driven within the rack, after which the gate is closed and fastened in the manner described.

If it is desired to weigh a load of hay or similar material with which the rack would interfere, the gates E are both unfastened and turned inwardly until they rest against or are parallel with the side racks, B B, to which they are fastened by means of a small hook and staple, h, or in any other convenient manner. The supporting-rods], which normally remain hooked in a staple along one of the slats b of the side rack, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, are lowered and hooked into the staples g in the platform A, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The crank-nuts c are run back on the screw-threaded rods 0 until the hooks c are loosened in the respective eyes,

when they are removed therefrom. The pro jeoting studs on the end of the brace-connections are raised out of the eye-clips on the posts a, and the braceconnections swung inwardly on their hinges until they come against the side racks, B, directly over and parallel with the end-gates E, and in the same relative position with the said gates as when connected for use. The brace-connections are now secured to the gates and to the side racks, B, by turning the fastening-bars F until they engage the fastening-clips on the said brace-counections.

It will be seen that the various parts of the rack are now supported on and parallel with the side racks, B. The supporting-rods are removed from the staples in the platform, and the side rack with the gates and other parts are allowed to swing gently outward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, until the beveled ends of the uprights a rest against the platform. The supporting-rodsff are now replaced in their normal position and the scales are ready for Weighing hay or general merchandise.

It will be seen that by the constructions thus described I secure a stock-raek that is both simple and strong, and that may be readily set up for use or folded out of the way in an exceed ingly short time and with but little trouble, the entire rack being so arranged that it all remains on the platform of the scales at all times, so that it is not necessary to change the balance-of the scales, whether the rack is in use or folded out of the way.

It is obvious that the supporting-rods f may be dispensed with, if desired, as their use is a matter of convenience to hold the side racks in a vertical position while the gates and braceconnections are being folded. It 'is also obvious that the device admits of various modifications in the construction thereof without departing from the spirit of my invention. I do not therefore limit myself to the exact construetions described; but

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with the side racks, of the brace-connections C, hinged thereto, and the tie-rods D, adapted to connect said side racks and brace-connections, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the side racks hinged to the scale-platform, of the brace-connections hinged to said side racks, the endgates hinged to said side racks directly under the said brace-connections, and the fasteningbar adapted to connect the said gates to the said brace-connections and the platform, sub stantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the side racks, of the brace-connections hinged thereto and the tie-rod on said braceconnection, said tie-rods being each provided at one end with a hinge or jointed connection and at the other with a crank-nut and hook connection, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with the side racks, of

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the brace-connections having the longitudinal pieces adapted to bear at either end against the respective side racks, the said brace-connections being hinged to the said side racks at one end, and the said longitudinal pieces being cut away at one corner on the arc of a circle struck from the center of the said hinges, so that the said brace-connections may turn on the said hinges, while at the same time the longitudinal pieces have a bearing against the side racks to which they are hinged, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with the side racks, of the brace-connections hinged to the respective side racks at opposite ends thereof, said braceconnections being constructed of two longitudinal pieces connected at or near the ends by transverse pieces, a tie-rod passing through each of said brace-connections and supported by said transverse pieces, said tie-rod being adapted at either end to pass through thesaid side racks, and provided atone end with a hinged connection and at the other end with a detachable connection, and means for tightening said tie-rod, substantially as and for the 25 purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with the side racks hinged at the bottom to the scale-platform, of the brace-connections and end-gates hinged thereto, the fastening-bar on each of said end- 0 gates, the jointed tie-rod in said brace-connections,- the supportingrods on said side racks, and means, substantially as described, for connecting said gates and brace-connections to the said side racks when folded back 3 5 out of use, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand thisllth day of June, A. D. 1887.

' OREIN T. BOULTON. Vitncsses:

W. O. PANGBORN, J. E. HUNTER. 

